All-Ireland and double All Star award winner Oisín McConville says Saturday’s league final between his own county and Fermanagh is one he is “very interested in”. He believes the Orchard team that runs out on the hallowed turf of Croke Park will be pretty close to the team that McGeeney names in this year’s championship.

“From an Armagh point of view and not giving too much away, Armagh are treating this as a championship match and that was evident last weekend when no county players played club games. It will be as close to a championship team as possible,” claims McConville.

And he anticipates a somewhat different set-up than previously seen in the league or indeed when Fermanagh drew with them in the Athletic grounds, on March 8.

“I’m expecting a lot of changes - a lot of positional changes. Players like Ciaran O’Hanlon might play in the middle of the field because they’re looking for someone alongside Aaron Findon. I think there will be players coming back from injury. I expect a lot of changes.” “This will be very close to what we see in the championship. Fermanagh and Pete McGrath will be looking to find out a bit more about their boys and Geezer (Kieran McGeeney) will be looking to do the same. I don’t think they (Armagh) will play many challenge matches between now and the championship, so any player hoping to make an impression, now is his chance.” Armagh have a number of match winners and none more so than in Oisín’s club man Jamie Clarke. If given the slightest bit of space, he is deadly in front of goals. In Sean Quigley though, Fermanagh boast the top scorer in the league, a feat the Crossmaglen manager is mindful off and pays tribute to; “He is a big unit and a very impressive footballer. As a free taker myself, the way he strikes the ball is so natural - no fuss and he’s consistent. If Fermanagh had have had the same level of a free taker in ’04 and ’08 in the All Ireland semi-final against Mayo and the Ulster final against Armagh, I think they’d have been very close to an All Ireland final and an Ulster title. He has been the difference for Fermanagh and you can’t underestimate the value of a good free-taker.” Armagh Harps club man Charlie Vernon will almost certainly be tasked with marshalling the Roslea man on Saturday evening and McConville is anticipating a fine dual in around the square: “Charlie (Vernon) is well suited to him. They’re two physical players and if it does come down to a battle of physicality, I think it will be 50/50 who comes out on top. Quigley is cute though and he can draw frees. If he manages to do this, he’ll have the accuracy to put them over the bar.” Defensively, Fermanagh will need to be on top to nullify the threat of Tony Kernan, Clarke and other players like Ethan Rafferty and Miceal McKenna who have shown well in the league campaign. McConville says the half-back lines for either side have the winning of this game: “Both teams have had an organised defence. They’ll want to keep that going. How much can you get out of both half-back lines? That will be the big question. Armagh’s half-back line did well in the league, in an attacking sense. I think the game will be won and lost there.” The loss of Eoin Donnelly at midfield will be significant too, he believes; “If Eoin Donnelly is not playing it will be a massive boost for Armagh. Winning that initial possession could be enough to edge it for Armagh.” The last time Fermanagh and Armagh lined out in Croke Park, was that memorable sunny summers day in August 2004 when Fermanagh claimed an almighty scalp and booked their place in the All Ireland semi-final. Casting his mind back, he laughs as he says: “You had to bring that up didn’t you!” Asked whether it will be used as a motivating tool by McGeeney, he says; “It may be something that is mentioned in the changing room beforehand. There is a bit of a similarity in that, back then Armagh were coming off the back of a decent run in the championship the previous year, similarly this year they’re coming off the back of a decent run in last year’s championship. I don’t think it will play a big part though. It’s a completely different game now, tactics wise. Back then it was 15 against 15. Now, you have packed defences and the likes.” The key to Saturday’s game may be the team who copes best with the wide, open space in Croke Park. McConville is no stranger to GAA headquarters and he admits it’s a totally different ball game when you’re playing there.

“It’s a completely different game! You’re used to playing in provincial venues and all the rest but Croke Park is very different. You only need to look at last year when Derry played the Dubs, their game plan went out the window. There are so many places to fill and the game can go by with very little tackling and as a result it does often look like a slightly different game than what you’d see in the likes of Clones or Ballybofey.” Whichever team adapts to this better may be climbing the steps on Saturday night. Fermanagh know they have the measure of Armagh. They came back from five points down to nick a draw in the Athletic grounds six weeks ago and McConville says Armagh will need to be cautious this weekend, given how some of their previous league games have gone.

With the favourites tag resting on the Orchard men’s shoulder, he warns there is little room for complacency; “We could have been beaten by Tipperary. Fermanagh should have edged the game in the Athletic grounds. We got a tanking against Sligo and we were lucky to get past Louth. Complacency is not an option.” McConville has been impressed with Pete McGrath and Fermanagh this year; “Fermanagh are building nicely. I’ve been very impressed with them. Pete McGrath has done a great job.” But he believes winning is as important to Armagh, as it is to Fermanagh; “With no disrespect to Fermanagh or Armagh, neither team have had a wild lot of opportunities to get a run out at Croke Park. People might scoff at Division Three but silverware can be a big confidence booster and especially to the younger players. I think this game has come at the right time for both teams.” And McConville does believe that silverware will be making its way back to the Orchard County on Saturday night: “I’m not overly confident but I think Armagh by a few points”.